Jewelry Making Daily presents

Join Helen Driggs, Senior Editor for Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist and an experienced metalsmith, in a free video tutorial on metal stamping jewelry. Helen's jewelry-making focus is fabrication, especially metal forming and forging. Using basic metal stamping techniques on metal stamps for jewelry can take your jewelry to the next level. Add a personal touch to your metalsmith jewelry pieces with unique and original designs using affordable or homemade metal stamping tools.

Whether you're new to metal stamping or just need stamping ideas, this free video tutorial is sure to teach you something. If you're stamping metal for the first time, you'll discover the importance of practice and proper positioning, as well as the essential metal stamping tools needed to get started. Metal stamping requires some hardware, but once you've acquired your stamping tools, they'll last you years. Learn how to make use of everyday hardware like nails, chisels and a metal hole punch as metal stamp tools. Access your free video tutorial; grab your steel hammer and metal to start metal stamping jewelry today!

What's inside?

Once you've acquired the necessary metal stamping tools: metal stamps, hammers, a steel or aluminum block, and any other desired supplies, you're ready to begin! Helen explains the process from selecting your custom stamps for unique designs to proper position and techniques for creating metal letter stamps. She'll also show you the negative effect using improper materials might have on your metal stamps. Metal stamping for jewelry requires the use of non-ferrous metals. Fine detail work on metal requires the right surface. Helen also demonstrates the stamping tools she uses for accuracy in her metalsmithing projects to ensure straight lines and edges for creating letter stamps. Her helpful tips will guide beginners through the process and some creative stamping ideas while introducing metalsmithing experts to the joys of metal stamping jewelry. Watch this free video tutorial on stamping metal with easily-accessible stamping tools and learn the process today!

Create personalized metal stamps for jewelry using copper, sterling or aluminum! These metals are readily available and stamping your own personal message or designs is quite easy. All you need is a bench block, household hammer and metal stamps. You can also hammer textures onto your metal stamps using a textured hammer from a jewelry supply house. Just place sheet metal on a steel bench block or anvil and strike sharply. Either strike all over the metal without rotating the hammer or rotate the hammer with each strike to achieve a new stamping pattern. Learn how to stamp metal and get expert guidance and tips from renowned artist Helen Driggs all for FREE!

Watch your FREE video to get started today!

Tip 1:
Getting set up and preparing your metal stamp

Custom metal stamps can be purchased or made. Purchase them at any jewelry supply house, or online – they are very easy to find. If you wish to make your own stamps for texturing metal, you can create them using everyday hardware like chisels or nails from any hardware store. Improvising from materials you already own or making your own could save you money in the long run and could last you years. Once you have gathered your supplies and have your safety equipment ready, you can begin. To ensure you stamp in a straight line, Helen demonstrates the use of an L-shape ruler or a flexible ruler and a Sharpie marker for small markings along your grid to stamp over once you have marked your letter or design you'd like to stamp. On sterling silver and copper, you can darken your stampwork beautifully by oxidizing the piece, then cleaning most of the oxidization off of everything but the letters or numbers. On other types of metal, you can use fine-tip Sharpie markers to color your stamping in any color you wish.

Tip 2:
Position both yourself and the metal properly for stamping

Helen demonstrates by standing and firmly grasping her hammer while holding the metal stamp with the notch against her thumb. Hammer directly on top of the metal firmly. It also makes it easier for you to stay in your rhythm of hitting each stamp uniformly with the same amount of force. Hit each stamp only once with your hammer striking it hard enough to create a strong mark in the metal. If you hit it more than once, you may get a blurred or double image. To keep your stamped message in more of a straight line as you work, you can use one of these methods before you start: use a ruler and fine-point Sharpie marker to draw a "baseline" on your metal, so you'll know where to set each stamp
.

Tip 3:
Using the proper metals for stamping jewelry

Helen explains the importance of using a strong metal block under whatever metal you're stamping so the metal you want to stamp gives and receives the impression, not the support underneath it. She demonstrates what happens if you were to use a wooden block behind your stamp. A strong metal block is essential in marking metal. Other helpful items to have handy are a small piece of non-skid, rubberized shelf liner, masking tape, blue painter's tape, or post-it notes. Fine-tip Sharpie markers, in black or any other colors you wish, are also great tools for creating a perfect metal stamp. After coloring your stamping with Sharpies, you can easily wipe off the excess ink using a small piece of paper towel soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Personalize your own jewelry or create a gift for a special someone in your life. Watch this amazing FREE Video Tutorial from Jewelry Making Daily!

With informative tips and step by step instructions, this free video tutorial will help you develop skills and give you stamping ideas for creating metal stamps for jewelry!

This is one of the hottest trends in jewelry making. Learn how to easily personalize your metal jewelry with metal stamping.You can incorporate these stamping ideas and techniques for cuff bracelets, ID bracelets, and rings. You can link different shaped blanks together to form bracelets, pendants, earrings and more. Use stamped pieces as charms, or even create riveted pieces. Metal stamps and stamping tools are easily accessible at your nearest jewelry supply house, craft or hardware stores. Pick up your safety goggles and you are ready to begin stamping metal! This free video tutorial is perfect for beginners looking for an easy way to create custom metal stamps and will show experienced artists the value of gaining and refining their metalsmithing skills. Watch this free video to get started stamping metal today!

Along with this free video tutorial, you will also receive a free membership to our online Jewelry Making Daily community! Your free membership includes: